Stairway to Heaven by Led Zeppelin — Amp Settings & Guitar Tone
Reference tone dialed on a Squier Classic Vibe Stratocaster into a Fender Mustang LT25. Settings below are cited from real sources; open the page in a browser for the interactive version, or get this tone dialed for your exact gear.
This setup captures the dynamic journey of 'Stairway to Heaven' using a Squier Stratocaster and a Fender Mustang LT25. The Strat's single-coils provide the necessary brightness and articulation, while the Mustang LT25's modeling capabilities help approximate the Supro amp's crunch. The 'CLASSIC ROCK' preset is adjusted to match the warm mids and natural amp sag of the original recording.
Signal chain settings
Squier Classic Vibe '60s Stratocaster — Main guitar for rhythm and lead
| Control | Setting | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Pickup Selector | Neck Pickup | Select the neck pickup for a warm, resonant tone in the clean intro. |
| Master Volume | 8 | Set to 8 to maintain clarity while allowing for dynamic picking response. |
| Tone 1 | 7 | Dial to 7 to keep the warmth while avoiding excessive brightness. |
| Tone 2 | Leave at default | Not used for the neck pickup in this setting. |
Fender Mustang LT25 — Amp modeling for rhythm and lead
| Control | Setting | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Preset | 04 CLASSIC ROCK | This preset provides a good starting point for the mid-forward crunch of the original recording. |
| Gain | 5 | Set to 5 to achieve a gradual progression from clean to crunch, matching the dynamic range of the song. |
| Volume | 6 | Set to 6 to ensure the guitar cuts through without overpowering the mix. |
| Treble | 6 | Set to 6 to balance the Strat's natural brightness with the mid-forward character of the song. |
| Bass | 5 | Set to 5 to maintain a balanced low end, supporting the warm mids. |
| Master | 7 | Set to 7 to allow for natural amp sag and dynamics as playing intensity increases. |
| Cabinet build | Not used | Not needed for this tone — leave it off. |
| Amp Models | Not used | Not needed for this tone — leave it off. |
Section guide — how the tone changes through the song
Introduction
The introduction features a clean, fingerpicked tone with a warm resonance.
- the pedal: Gain → 3
Solo
The solo uses a more saturated tone with increased dynamics and brightness.
- the pedal: Pickup Selector → Bridge Pickup
- the pedal: Gain → 7
What Led Zeppelin actually used
The recording of 'Stairway to Heaven' featured a blend of acoustic and electric guitars, with Jimmy Page utilizing a Harmony Sovereign H1260 for the acoustic sections and a Fender Electric XII for electric rhythm parts. The iconic solo was performed on a 1959 Fender Telecaster through a Supro 1690T Coronado amplifier. The recording took place at Island Studios in London, with Andy Johns engineering and Jimmy Page producing.
- Harmony Sovereign H1260 — acoustic intro and rhythm. Standard tuning
- Fender Electric XII 12-string — electric rhythm overdubs. Standard tuning
- 1959 Fender Telecaster — lead guitar solo. Standard tuning
- Supro 1690T Coronado — amplification for lead guitar solo. Exact settings unknown
- Maestro Echoplex EP-3 — subtle slapback echo on lead guitar solo. Exact settings unknown
- Helios Type 69 Console Preamp/EQ — recording and equalization. Exact settings unknown
- UREI 1176 Compressor — compression during recording. Exact settings unknown
- EMT 140 Plate Reverb — reverb applied during mixing. Exact settings unknown
Tuning: Standard
Sources
- https://www.fender.com/en-US/squier-electric-guitars/stratocaster/classic-vibe-stratocaster-60s/0303010500.html
- https://www.manualslib.com/manual/1547905/Fender-Mustang-Lt25.html
- https://www.fender.com/en-US/guitar-amplifiers/contemporary-digital/mustang-lt25/2311100000.html
- https://www.manualslib.com/manual/3126493/Fender-Mustang-Lt25.html
- https://guitar.com/features/artist-rigs/the-gear-used-by-jimmy-page-on-led-zeppelin-iv/
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stairway_to_Heaven
- https://www.tonedb.co/tones/led-zeppelin/stairway-to-heaven/lead-guitar